Welcome to the Online Clann Tartan Newsletter for May 2005

From the Quartermaster:

From the President:

Still looking for thoughts on Why We Do What We Do

Drill

				Tartan Day 2005

Dear Clann Tartan Newsletter,

What if?  What if it's time for Clann Tartan to rethink its
presentations, with the goal of attracting more new members and paid
engagements?  By returning to the initiating vision of Jeff Nordin and
others, maybe in the absence of Shaun Gaffney's spirit and energy, it's
time either to find a new colonel whose charisma makes the mercenary
side of Clann Tartan more lively and entertaining, or else refocus about
what reenactment of 16th and 17th Century Scotland can offer the
contemporary public.  Let's face it, a "gun show" mood is a rather down
affair because killing isn't the happy unifier people are looking for,
it's hardly worked out so well, so far!  Has it?

...I suggest something a little more genuine than Brigadoon, yet more of
an enjoyable "show" with characters, plot (repetory formats), music,
dance, craft show, mini Highland games, demonstrations in context, in
short, something free, but worth paying for!

I wanted to join Clann Tartan to try-out new ideas for an historically
plausible "living history" personality I could use to expand my
understanding of a critical, indeed, "revolutionary" turning point in
modern history, the late renaissance and era of the English Civil War.
True, "new model armies" and skilled, seasoned mercenaries were taking
the field for the first time, breaking away from the feudal loyalties
and obligations that had crumbled after the Black Death and the 100
Years War, but there were many other types of Scots who would have
surrounded the mercenary camp of Col. Gaffney.

I wanted to join Clann Tartan to feel welcomed and included in a clann
family whose goals were larger than being a "clannish" social in-group.
Sure, I can enjoy a passive or inactive status if my character of 17th
Cent. Highland Shaman is seen as an outsider, even a dissident anarchist
peacenik from the mercenary recruiter's viewpoint, but any group needs
to balance Spartan conservatism with Athenean democracy and liberalism.

What do other members think?  Will the current organizational structure
let members question "our" structure and future direction?  If my letter
goes unprinted I suppose that I'll have my answer, and realize letters
to the editor aren't solicited.  Thanks.

Not on the web --!

Michael (Apollo) McKenzie,
would-be, Oracle of Kintail

P.S.  If the newsletter isn't for members' input, I think that it
should be, and it could act as a much needed forum for discussion.

Board Minutes

Minutes of Clann Tartan Board and Annual Membership Meeting
March 7, 2005

In attendance:  (Board) Mary McKinley,  Rob Portinga, Diana Steben, 
Bruce Yoder, Glenn McDavid

(Staff) Rob Johnson, Maeve Kane

(Members) David Vavreck

The minutes from the February Board and Membership meeting were approved.
 
OLD BUSINESS
============

STRALSUND
No update.  We are considering staying over an extra night.


NEW MEMBERS LETTER
The draft from the committee (Mia, Glenn, and Bruce) was approved with
small corrections.  Along with it we should send a copy of Maeve's
letter about going to your first event, and a list of Muster
requirements.  This packet is to be mailed by the Secretary.

MAEVE'S PAPER DOLLS
It appears that we would have to pay sales tax if we sell them.  We have
a Federal Tax ID, but we need a State Tax ID for Minnesota.  David will
contact the Department of Revenue,  For events in other States we will
need the appropriate ID's for those states.  Alternatively, we simply
might not sell anything at such events.

INSURANCE
The Reenactor's Insurance we had been investigating is no longer
available.  David Vavreck will look into other possibilities.   Also,
Bruce Yoder checked our current policy and discovered we do not have
fire coverage.  This is an obvious problem and we need to fix it.

COMPANY REP
This Board position is still open.  We are still looking for someone to
fill it.

VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Bruce Yoder reported that St. Christopher's Episcopal Church has asked
the Dance Guild to pay $15 per month.  We are not being singled out; the
Church is making similar requests to comparable organizations that use
the building.

We could look into other possible locations (e.g. Macalester, Molly
Quinn's) but there is no obvious alternative site.  Another possibility
would be to have the Dance Guild members pay for it.  Sales of Lisa's
Dance CD were suggested, but, while fine for our needs, it is not 
really a marketable item.

TREASURER'S REPORT
Reports were submitted.  We got three new student members at Albert Lea,
but none at Ramble.

SECRETARY -- No report.

QUARTERMASTER -- Absent, no report

SWORD GUILD -- No report

HISTORIC SITE -- Nothing new

DRUM -- Maeve has wav files for the drum calls.  We can convert those to
MP3.

FIBER GUILD -- Camp Drill will include an opportunity for members to
work on their costumes.  

Maeve will let us use her dolls within Clann.


COMMUNICATIONS 
Rob Portinga outlined the improvements to the Web Site.  Forums are now
working.  Newsletters are also on-line.  We are not currently being
linked from the Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games (MSF&HG)
site--that needs to be fixed. 

The mailing list is being cleaned.  We are working on a list of what is
in the library.  We need to renew the Smoke & Fire News subscription and
have it mailed to Maeve.

IMMERSION WEEKEND -- The committee has not met yet.

UPCOMING EVENTS
===============
DEFINITE
3/26       Camp Drill.  Inver Grove Heights.

4/6        Tartan Day.  We need musketeers.

April      Work weekends.  Need to plan.

6/11-12    Old World Ren Fair, Twig MN.  We have a contract.

7/9        MSF&HG,  We need a contact with the Viking group.

7/14-17    Tactical

Aug-Sept   Minnesota Renaissance Festival.  Dates of Highland Fling
           weekend have not yet been announced.  

9/29-10/2  Big Island.  We are contracted for 8 demos.

November   David will meet Rob to plan the Stralsund trip.  Apparently
           Boyer Ford rents vans with trailer hitches, which would be
           useful.      

POSSIBLE
5/13-15    Military Time Line.  Charles City, Iowa.  We have an offer.

6/4-25     Wisconsin Renaissance Faire, Chippewa Falls.  Conflicts with
weekends   Old World Ren Fair (6/11-12).  There is also some concern
           about whether we have the resources--they want us every
           weekend.

7/31-8/7   Deer River.   Still waiting to hear from them

Other possibilities include the Watson Harvest Fest, the Shooter's
Roundup, and the Milwaukee Highland Games.  Also, the Thompson Law Firm
has invited us to speech about Scottish Law.  This was referred to
David.

OTHER

4th Level Muster:  Need to document the requirements and schedule the
Muster for Maeve.

Voting Privileges:  The need to simplify the By-Laws is generally
acknowledged.  Mia's proposal was well received, but it will require a
formal By-Law change by membership vote.

Meeting adjourned at 8:51 P.M.

Board & Staff

If you need to contact someone associated with Clann Tartan, here is where you find out how. If you are unsure who to contact, you can always email us at: info@clanntartan.org

Board Members

Staff

Guilds

At the request of the Board of Directors, this monthly column will address members' questions about, well, anything related to what we in Gaffneyis Regiment do. What is event X like? Are thingamajigs period? How do you make a whatzahoozits? Where do you get a fribber-frabber? Members are requested to send questions about anything pertinent to Baethan (David Vavreck) who can be reached at 612-378-1973, baethan1630@yahoo.com, or 1036 24th Avenue SE, Mpls. MN 55414

New members ask "What is that mustering thing all about?"

Our manual lists the requirements for the various muster levels - unsworn, recruit, veteran, and Gaffneyis Own - but doesn't really explain the point of our mustering system.

No, it's not a little head game we play, nor is it merely a series of hoops to no end.

The point of our mustering system is to provide a framework to enable us to become the best interpreters that we can be.

As the requirements themselves are spelled out clearly in the Manual, there is no need to repeat that info here. I will, however, give the gist thereof.

Level one (the Unsworn) essentially requires that you have the basic clothing to appear in public with us.

Level two (the Recruit) requires a knowledge of basic information and skills in order to begin performing and interpreting for the public.

Level three (the Veteran) brings in more advanced skills and encourages you to begin doing research.

Level four (Gaffneyis Own) demonstrates mastery of not only something you are particularly interested in - craft, art, science, what have you - but also a knowledge of pretty much everything that we do as an organization.

Upon reaching levels two and four, you earn the right to wear our two badges - our distinctive yellow cockade for second level, and the Gaffneyis Own badge for fourth level.

Whether you are new to our group or on old hand, there are two things you can do that will make you a more effective living historian:

Read! Our Manual is full of research articles on many topics. Public and university libraries are full of books. And we have our own lending library which currently resides at our Lievtenant's house. Contact Eric or Hellen Ferguson to make an appointment.

Take in every demonstration you can, whether by our own members, other reenactors at events, or at any of the many living history sites around the nation.

Everything we learn can only help make us even better living historians than we already are.

p.s. since last month's Baethan at the Moon about Gaffneyis Own, we have another member that has reached that level. Congratulations, Maeve Kane!

Calendar of Events

May 2005

JUNE 2005

Map to Inver Grove Heights location- Dance	Map to St. Paul location St. Christopher's- Dance
Map to Board Meetings Bruce and Julie Yoder's Home	Map to Board/Quarterly/Annual Meetings Corcoran Park, Minneapolis

Old World Ren Fair in Twig MN, June 11th and 12th 2005